嵌合型猪圆环病毒（PCV1—2）及PCV2 ORF2真核表达质粒对商品猪的免疫保护

应用本实验室构建的嵌合型猪圆环病毒（PCV1—2）及真核表达质粒pcDNA3．1／V5-His-ORF2作为免疫原免疫母源抗体ELISA效价在0．07～0．60不等的商品猪,9头猪随机分为4组,1组（3头）肌肉注射免疫10^3.5 TCID50的PCV1-2／头,2组（2头）肌肉注射真核表达质粒200μg／头,3组（2头）肌肉注射空载体（pcDNA3．1）200μg／头,4组（2头）不免疫作为攻毒对照组。于免疫后42d,PCV1—2组及真核表达质粒组产生了PCV2抗体。免疫后42d所有组攻毒PCV2和PRRSV,剂量分别为2×10^4.5 TCID50／头和10^6 TCID50／头。攻毒后21d,攻毒对照组猪淋巴结比免疫组显著肿大,免疫组猪血清、淋巴结中PCV2病毒栽量低于对照组,攻毒对照组猪淋巴结中PCV2抗原含量高于免疫组。这些结果表明,嵌合型PCV1-2及真核表达质粒肌肉注射免疫商品猪后,对PCV2感染能产生保护性免疫应答,有可能成为候选疫苗。     

Bordetella rhinitis in pigs: serum and nasal antibody response to Bordetella bacterins.

The nasal and serum antibody response of two groups of pigs, vaccinated with adjuvant containing formalinized or sonicated Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterins was compared with the response of a nonvaccinated group. The tube agglutination test was used to determine agglutinin titers. Following vaccination, all pigs were challenged intranasally with the vaccine strain of Bordetella, after which the nasal Bordetella flora of vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs was investigated. Sera and nasal secretions from both vaccinated groups exhibited markedly higher agglutinin titers than the control group and serum titers were higher than those in nasal secretions. No differences in agglutinating antibody response were evident between the two vaccines. Serum antibody titers exceeded nasal titers and persisted over a longer period of time. Systemic vaccination resulted in an increased nasal clearance of the vaccine strain by the groups of pigs vaccinated with sonicated or formalined bacterin, whereas no such clearance was evident in the nonvaccinated control group.     

Effects of the timing of the administration of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin on the development of lesions associated with porcine circovirus type 2

To determine whether there is an effect of the timing of vaccination on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) replication and PCV-2-associated lesions, 78 pigs were randomly assigned to eight groups: group 1 (10 pigs) was vaccinated with a commercial Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine at two and four weeks of age, group 2 (nine pigs) was vaccinated at four and six weeks of age, group 3 (10 pigs) at six and eight weeks of age and group 4 (10 pigs) at eight and 10 weeks of age; group 5 (nine pigs) was vaccinated once with a double dose at four weeks of age, and group 6 (10 pigs) was vaccinated once with a double dose at eight weeks of age. Groups 7 and 8, both of 10 pigs, were not vaccinated. At eight weeks of age, the pigs in groups 1 to 7 were inoculated with PCV-2. Fourteen days after they had been inoculated, the pigs in groups 1, 4 and 5 had significantly (P<0.05) more copies of the PCV-2 genome in their serum than the unvaccinated pigs. Microscopically, 14 of the 68 inoculated pigs had normal lymphoid tissues, 40 had mild PCV-2-associated lymphoid lesions and 14 had moderate lesions. The mean overall lymphoid lesions (lymphoid depletion, granulomatous inflammation, and quantity of PCV-2 antigen in spleen, tonsil, and five lymph nodes) were significantly (P<0.05) more severe in groups 4 and 5 than in groups 2, 3, 7 and 8.     

A comparative efficacy test of 1 versus 2 doses of CIRCOQ PCV2 subunit vaccine against naturally occurring PCV2-type d in piglets with high maternally derived antibodies (MDAs) on a Vietnamese swine farm

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of the CIRCOQ porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) subunit vaccine in piglets with high maternally derived antibodies (MDAs) against disease caused by natural infection with PCV2d. A total of 130 weaned, 21-day-old healthy pigs was allocated into 3 trial groups. The signs of respiratory disorder were higher in unvaccinated pigs than in vaccinated pigs at 13 to 17 weeks old (P < 0.05), 18 to 22 weeks old (P < 0.001), and 23 to 27 weeks old (P < 0.01). The unvaccinated pigs had an early rate of dermatitis at 8 to 12 weeks old (10.0%), 13 to 17 weeks old (30.0%), 18 to 22 weeks old (46.7%), and 23 to 27 weeks old (33.3%), while there were no cases of dermatitis in vaccinated pigs. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the mortality of pigs in the unvaccinated group and the 2-dosed vaccinated group. PCV2 viremia was detected in the blood and peaked at 105 days old in both unvaccinated pigs (Ct-adj = 8.40) and pigs vaccinated with 1 dose (Ct-adj = 6.37), while no detectable PCV2 virus was found in the blood of pigs vaccinated with 2 doses. At 77 and 105 days old, the PCV2 viremia load (Ct-adj) of unvaccinated pigs and those vaccinated with 1 dose was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the 2-dosed vaccinated pigs. The body weight (BW), average weight gain (AWG), and average daily gain (ADG) in both groups of vaccinated pigs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of unvaccinated pigs. The study vaccine was significantly efficacious in protecting vaccinated pigs against clinical symptoms, blood viral load, and mortality, as well as improving productivity, compared with unvaccinated pigs.     

Comparison of antibody values in sera of pigs vaccinated with a subunit or an attenuated vaccine against classical swine fever

Ten pigs, aged 85 days, were vaccinated with a subunit vaccine containing 32 g of classical swine fever virus glycoprotein E2 (gp E2) (group 1), and a further 10 pigs were vaccinated with a C strain vaccine (10^4±0.15 TCID₅₀/ml), produced by amplification in minipig kidney (MPK) cell culture (group 2). Nine non-vaccinated pigs served as a control group (group 3). Serum samples were collected before (day 0) and at 4, 10, 21 and 28 days after vaccination and were analysed by two commercially available enzyme immunoassays and by a neutralizing peroxidase-linked assay (NPLA). At the same times, peripheral blood was taken for determining the total leukocyte count and the body temperature was taken daily. Antibodies were not detected in serum samples collected before vaccination (day 0), and no side-effects that could be connected with vaccination were observed during the trial. Ten days after vaccination 6/10 pigs vaccinated with the subunit vaccine were seropositive. On days 21 and 28, the ratios of serologically positive to vaccinated pigs were 9/10 and 10/10, respectively. Four of the ten pigs that were vaccinated with the C strain vaccine were positive on day 21 and 9/10 on day 28. However, the results of the NPLA showed that only 4/10 pigs had an antibody titre >1:32 at the end of the trial in both the vaccinated groups, even though the subunit vaccine initiated an earlier and higher level of neutralizing antibodies than the vaccine produced from the C strain. Challenge was performed 28 days after vaccination on four randomly selected pigs from both vaccinated groups. The pigs survived the challenge without showing any clinical signs of classical swine fever (CSF), while two nonvaccinated control pigs died on the 10th and 12th days after infection.     

Immunomodulation with killed Propionibacterium acnes in guinea pigs simultaneously vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19

Immunomodulation with killed Propionibacterium acnes was attempted in guinea pigs simultaneously vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19. Two groups, each comprised of 9 guinea pigs, were injected by different routes (s.c. and or i.v.) with 1.4 mg of P. acnes and 5 X 10(8) CFU of B. abortus, S-19, while 3 other groups each received either P. acnes, B. abortus S-19, or saline (s.c.). The antibody titers to B. abortus measured at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after vaccination indicated no significant (P less than 0.01) response in the 2 groups immunopotentiated with P. acnes concurrent with B. abortus S-19 vaccination. The delayed hypersensitivity response to 3 Brucella antigens conducted 8 weeks after immunization did not show a significant difference between the B. abortus S-19 vaccinated group compared with the 2 groups immunopotentiated and vaccinated. However, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to the B. abortus soluble antigen diluted 1:100 indicated significantly enhanced blastogenesis in the (s.c.) immunopotentiated and immunized guinea pigs compared with the B. abortus S-19 vaccinated group. A slightly enhanced response was also observed in the group immunopotentiated (i.v.) and vaccinated (s.c.). The guinea pigs were challenged with B. abortus strain 2308 and necropsied 4 weeks later. The mean splenic CFU of the Brucella in the group immunopotentiated (i.v.) and vaccinated (s.c.) was significantly decreased when compared with the guinea pigs vaccinated with B. abortus S-19 alone. These findings indicated that P. acnes administered simultaneously with B. abortus S-19 vaccine was able to augment the immune response in guinea pigs. Immunomodulation as evidenced by enhanced clearance of B. abortus from the spleens of immunopotentiated animals was presumably brought about by activated macrophages or a T-cell mediated cytolytic mechanism or both.     

Classical swine fever (CSF) marker vaccine. Trial I. Challenge studies in weaner pigs

Two commercial marker vaccines against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and companion diagnostic tests were examined in 160 conventional pigs. To test the vaccines in a "worst case scenario", group of 10 weaners were vaccinated using a single dose of an E2 (gp55) based vaccine at days -21, -14, -10 or -7, and subsequently challenged at day 0. The challenge virus was CSFV 277, originating from a recent outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in Germany. In all groups, only 5 out of 10 pigs were challenged; the remaining 5 pigs served as vaccinated contact controls. Also, three control groups, each consisting of 10 non-vaccinated pigs, were challenged in parallel to the vaccinated animals. CSFV could be isolated from all non-vaccinated pigs. Among these pigs 40% displayed a chronic course of the infection (virus positive for more than 10 days). Pigs vaccinated 21 or 14 days before challenge displayed no clinical signs of CSFV after challenge. However, they were still able to replicate CSFV when challenged, as measured by reisolation of CSFV from leukocytes of the directly challenged pigs. CSFV could be isolated from the leucocytes of 25% of the pigs vaccinated 21 days before challenge and 50% of the pigs vaccinated 14 days before challenge. Chronic infection was not observed, but transmission to one vaccinated contact pig occurred. From all pigs vaccinated 10 or 7 days before challenge, CSFV could be reisolated. We observed a chronic course of infection in 5% of pigs vaccinated 10 days before challenge and in 30% of pigs vaccinated 7 days before challenge. The mortality rate was 20% in the pigs vaccinated 10 days before challenge, and varied between 20 and 80% in pigs vaccinated 7 days prior to challenge. The contact animals had lower mortality (0-20%) than directly challenged pigs, probably mirroring the delayed time point of infection. There was thus some protection against clinical illness by both marker vaccines, but not a solid protection against infection and virus shedding. The efficacy of the vaccine was best if used 3 weeks before challenge and a clear correlation between time interval from vaccination to challenge and the level of virus shedding was observed. Each vaccine had its own accompanying discriminatory ELISA, but 18% of the virus positive pigs never seroconverted in these tests.     

Conjunctival and intramuscular vaccination of pigs with a live avirulent strain of Salmonella cholerae-suis

An avirulent mutant strain of Salmonella cholerae-suis was cloned for resistance to streptomycin and nalidixic acid. The mutant strain 33-13 also was used because of its avirulence and immunogenicity in mice. Weaned pigs were vaccinated with live strain 33-13; 5 pigs were vaccinated by conjunctivally administered 5.5 X 10(7) organisms (low dose), 5 were conjunctivally administered 5.5 X 10(9) organisms (high dose), and 5 pigs were administered 5.5 X 10(9) organisms (high dose) IM. Transient fever and transient fecal shedding of the vaccine strain developed in pigs vaccinated IM, but not in 2 groups of pigs vaccinated conjunctivally. After intratracheal administration of virulent strain 38-9, nonvaccinated control pigs (n = 9) developed persistent high fever, anorexia, bacteremia, diarrhea, and fecal shedding of strain 38-9, whereas vaccinated pigs remained afebrile and clinically normal. Nonvaccinated and uninfected sentinel pigs (n = 8) were kept in units of 2 pigs with each group of experimental pigs, and remained healthy throughout the experiment. Thirteen vaccinated and 7 nonvaccinated control pigs were killed 42 days after vaccination, and 2 vaccinated, 2 nonvaccinated, and 8 sentinel control pigs were killed 58 days after vaccination. Ten organs were evaluated by quantitative bacteriology on necropsy of all pigs for the presence of vaccine strain 33-13, and for virulent strain 38-9. Strain 33-13 was not found. Lung and liver, lesions were found in most of the nonvaccinated control pigs, with a high frequency of recovery of large numbers of strain 38-9 from the mesenteric lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and ileum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of the Stellamune Mycoplasma vaccine on growth, energy conversion, death, and medication use in fattening pigs on a pig farm chronically infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

The effect of Stellamune Mycoplasma vaccine, administered to piglets aged 2-15 days and then 13-15 days later, on daily weight gain, energy conversion, and use of medication was examined in fattening pigs on a chronically Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infected pig farm. Half of the piglets were vaccinated and the other half acted as controls. In the study design, half of the pens in the fattening unit were allocated to vaccinated pigs; the other half to non-vaccinated pigs, pen was the experimental unit. In the fattening pens sows and castrated boars were separated. The study consisted of a total of 37 pens with vaccinated, and 37 pens with non-vaccinated pigs in 12 different compartments within the pig herd. In the finishing period, mean growth performance and mean energy conversion (EV/kg) of vaccinated animals was 65 grams/day higher and 0.07 EV/kg lower than in control pigs. Furthermore, the incidence of individual curative medication against respiratory problems was more than 4 times higher in control pigs than in vaccinated pigs. There was a tendency for a higher number of group medications against respiratory problems in control pigs than in vaccinated pigs. It is concluded that, in this herd, vaccination against M. hyopneumoniae was successful from an economic point of view.     

Evaluation of antibody formation, daily weight gain and meat quality after vaccination of piglets against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

A Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine (Respisure, Pfizer AH) was tested for its effects on antibody formation, daily weight gain (DWG) in different growing periods, lung lesions and quality of meat (chemical composition, physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition). Two groups of conventional piglets were used for the investigation. One group of 11 females and 11 males was vaccinated intramuscularly at the age of 1 and 3 weeks. The other group of 22 piglets was left nonvaccinated as control. The results showed that antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae in the vaccinated group had been formed 14 days after the second vaccination and remained present till the end of the study at 147 days of age. In the nonvaccinated group, seroconversion started at 49 days of age and by the end of the study 10 out of 22 pigs had become seropositive. Vaccinated pigs achieved significantly higher daily weight gain (+30 g) and finishing body weight (+6.04 kg) than the nonvaccinated animals. In addition, the vaccinated pigs showed lesions involving 3.27% of the lung surface in average, while in the nonvaccinated pigs 9.04% of the lung surface was affected. Investigation of meat quality showed that the longissimus dorsi muscle of vaccinated pigs contained significantly lower percentage of fat (-0.63%) and its tryptophan/hydroxyproline ratio was significantly lower (-23.57) in comparison with the control animals. In addition, some other parameters also showed a favourable tendency, e.g. lean meat percentage was 0.91% higher, the protein content of the longissimus dorsi muscle was 0.35% higher, its water-binding capacity was also higher by 0.78%, its monounsaturated fatty acid concentration was 2.97% lower, while its polyunsaturated fatty acid content was 1.65% higher in the vaccinated pigs than in the nonvaccinated animals.     

Antibody response of pigs to inactivated monovalent and bivalent vaccines for porcine parvovirus and pseudorabies virus

Groups of pigs vaccinated with an inactivated bivalent vaccine containing porcine parvovirus (PPV) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) developed geometric mean titers (GMT) of humoral antibody for each of the viruses as high or slightly higher than those of other groups of pigs that were vaccinated with inactivated monovalent vaccines containing one or the other of the same viruses. An increase in GMT after challenge exposure of vaccinated pigs to live virus indicated that vaccination did not prevent virus replication. However, an indication that replication was less extensive in vaccinated pigs was provided by the following. Although neither vaccinated nor nonvaccinated (control) pigs had clinical signs after exposure to the live PPV, the effect of vaccination was evident by the fact that GMT were higher in nonvaccinated pigs after exposure than they were in vaccinated pigs. Conversely, all pigs exposed to live PRV had clinical signs, but these signs varied between mild-to-moderate and transient for vaccinated pigs to severe and fatal for nonvaccinated pigs.     

A cross-protection experiment in pigs vaccinated with Haemophilus parasuis serovars 2 and 5 bacterins, and evaluation of a bivalent vaccine under laboratory and field conditions.

Cross-protection between Haemophilus parasuis serovars 2 and 5 was examined in pigs using a bacterin based vaccine, and subsequently the safety and efficacy of a bivalent vaccine were evaluated. Upon intratracheal challenge of a serovar 2 or 5 strain, pigs immunized with a monovalent vaccine were protected against challenge with a homologous serovar strain, but not with a heterologous serovar strain. Immunization with a bivalent vaccine containing both serovars 2 and 5 bacterins conferred protection in pigs against lethal challenge with each of the serovar strains. A total of 86 pigs from two SPF herds were injected with the bivalent vaccine intramuscularly twice at a four-week interval. No adverse reactions following the vaccination were observed. On day 7 after the second vaccination, vaccinated and non-vaccinated control pigs from herd A were transferred to herd B, where Glasser's disease had broken out. Pigs in the control group developed clinical signs of the disease, and 6 of 8 (75%) pigs died until slaughter, in contrast with only 4 of 46 (9%) pigs in the vaccinated group. In herd C, where there was no outbreak of Glasser's disease, complement fixation antibody titer was raised only in the vaccinated group. A challenge experiment on days 20 and 79 after the second vaccination showed that only the vaccinated pigs were protected. From these findings, the safety and efficacy of the bivalent vaccine were confirmed under laboratory and field conditions.     

Induction of antibodies to glycoprotein I in pigs exposed to different doses of a mildly virulent strain of Aujeszky's disease virus

It has recently been shown that the antibody response to glycoprotein I (gI) of Aujeszky's disease virus can be used to distinguish infected from vaccinated pigs. To examine whether pigs exposed to low doses of a mildly virulent strain of Aujeszky's disease virus produce antibody to gI four groups of four pigs were inoculated intranasally with 10, 10(2), 10(3) or 10(4) plaque forming units (PFU) of the Sterksel strain. Two unvaccinated pigs and two pigs vaccinated intranasally with Bartha's K strain, a gI-negative vaccine, were placed in contact with each group. The pigs given 10 PFU and the in-contact pigs in this group did not become infected. The inoculated and the unvaccinated in-contact pigs in the other groups developed mild signs of illness and produced antibody to gI. Four of six vaccinated in-contact pigs that became infected showed neither clinical signs nor virus shedding and still produced antibody to gI. The other two vaccinated pigs appeared to be resistant to contact-challenge. The antibody response to gI persisted for at least seven months. These results support the idea that Aujeszky's disease virus may be eradicated by a programme based on vaccination with gI-negative vaccines, in conjunction with the detection and subsequent removal of gI-antibody positive, infected, pigs.     

A clinical field trial to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination in controlling Salmonella infection and the association of Salmonella-shedding and weight gain in pigs

A clinical field trial was performed to determine the effectiveness of an autogenous Salmonella Typhimurium bacterin compared with a commercial live S. Choleraesuis vaccine in pigs. The association between Salmonella shedding and weight gain was also investigated. Nine cohorts of weaned pigs, (330 to 350 pigs per cohort), were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups (injection with S. Typhimurium bacterin, vaccination via water with S. Choleraesuis vaccine, or a control group receiving no vaccine). In each cohort, the average daily gain was calculated for a selected pen throughout the production stage. Pen (pooled) fecal samples were collected bi-weekly and cultured. The odds of Salmonella shedding in both vaccinated groups was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). The prevalence of Salmonella shedding declined overall as pigs aged (P = 0.04). However, the control pigs showed the smallest decrease in Salmonella shedding over the entire production stage, while prevalence of Salmonella shedding in the vaccinated groups decreased twice as much as the control group over the entire production stage. Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen DT104, S. Cerro, and S. Agona, which had been isolated on the study farm previously, were recovered from pigs in this study. Shedding of S. Typhimurium var. Copenhagen decreased over time in both vaccine treatment groups. On the other hand, S. Cerro shedding rate was lower in the control pigs compared with vaccinated pigs and S. Agona could be recovered only from the samples collected from S. Choleraesuis vaccinated pigs. The pigs from pens with a higher Salmonella recovery rate experienced slower growth compared with pigs from pens where Salmonella was not isolated. This latter finding indicates that there might be an economic incentive for producers to try to control endemic salmonellosis if effective programs could be developed.     

High- and low-challenge exposure doses used to compare intranasal and intramuscular administration of pseudorabies virus vaccine in passively immune pigs.

We compared 3 modified-live pseudorabies virus (PRV) vaccine strains, administered by the intranasal (IN) or IM routes to 4- to 6-week-old pigs, to determine the effect of high- and low-challenge doses in these vaccinated pigs. At the time of vaccination, all pigs had passively acquired antibodies to PRV. Four experiments were conducted. Four weeks after vaccination, pigs were challenge-exposed IN with virulent virus strain Iowa S62. In experiments 1 and 2, a high challenge exposure dose (10(5.3) TCID50) was used, whereas in experiments 3 and 4, a lower challenge exposure dose (10(2.8) TCID50) was used. This low dose was believed to better simulate field conditions. After challenge exposure, pigs were evaluated for clinical signs of disease, weight gain, serologic response, and viral shedding. When vaccinated pigs were challenge-exposed with a high dose of PRV, the duration of viral shedding was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower, and body weight gain was greater in vaccinated pigs, compared with nonvaccinated challenge-exposed pigs. Pigs vaccinated IN shed PRV for fewer days than pigs vaccinated IM, but this difference was not significant. When vaccinated pigs were challenge-exposed with a low dose, significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer pigs vaccinated IN (51%) shed PRV, compared with pigs vaccinated IM (77%), or nonvaccinated pigs (94%). Additionally, the duration of viral shedding was significantly (P less than 0.05) shorter in pigs vaccinated IN, compared with pigs vaccinated IM or nonvaccinated pigs. The high challenge exposure dose of PRV may have overwhelmed the local immune response and diminished the advantages of the IN route of vaccination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of vaccinating sows and their piglets on the development of Glässer's disease induced by a virulent strain of Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5

Ten pregnant gilts were divided into two groups of five and one group was vaccinated at 80 and 95 days of pregnancy with a commercial bacterin containing Haemophilus parasuis serovars 2, 3 and 5. Half the piglets born to each group of gilts were vaccinated at seven and 21 days of age with the same bacterin, and one week after they were weaned at five weeks, all the piglets were inoculated intratracheally with 10(6) colony-forming units of Hparasuis serovar 5. At slaughter, a significantly smaller percentage of the lungs of the pigs born to the vaccinated gilts was affected by pneumonic lesions, and significantly fewer of them had arthritic joint changes. The average daily liveweight gain of the pigs born to the vaccinated gilts was significantly greater than that of those born to the unvaccinated gilts, but the vaccination of the piglets had no effect. There was no significant difference between the feed conversion ratios of the four groups of piglets, and none between the average times they took to reach slaughter weight. The pigs born to the vaccinated gilts had higher ELISA titres to Hparasuis than those born to the unvaccinated gilts.     

A field evaluation of mortality rate and growth performance in pigs vaccinated against porcine circovirus type 2

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, under field conditions, the effects of a commercial porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine on mortality rate and growth performance in a herd infected with PCV2 that had a history of porcine circovirus disease. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 485 commercial, cross-bred, growing pigs. PROCEDURES: Prior to weaning, pigs were randomly assigned within litter to a vaccination or unvaccinated control group. Pigs in the vaccination group were given a commercial PCV2 vaccine at weaning and 3 weeks later. Mortality rate was recorded, and pigs were weighed prior to vaccination, when moved from the nursery, and prior to marketing. Infection status was assessed by serologic testing and detection of viral DNA in serum. RESULTS: Compared with control pigs, pigs vaccinated against PCV2 had a significantly lower mortality rate during the finishing phase, significantly higher average daily gain during the finishing phase, and significantly lower likelihood of being lightweight at the time of marketing. For vaccinated pigs, overall mortality rate was reduced by 50% and average daily gain during the finishing period was increased by 9.3%. At the time of marketing, vaccinated pigs weighed an average of 8.8 kg (19.4 lb) more than control pigs, without any difference in days to marketing. Serum PCV2 antibody titers increased in control pigs, and PCV2 DNA was detected, indicating active PCV2 infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that vaccination against PCV2 was effective at reducing mortality rate and improving growth performance among pigs in a herd infected with PCV2.     

Effect of levamisole on the clinical and immunologic responses to oral vaccine of Treponema hyodysenteriae

Conventionally raised crossbred Hampshire pigs were vaccinated orally with attenuated Treponema hyodysenteriae in combination with an anthelmintic, levamisole or dichlorvos. Pigs in group I (n = 9) were treated with levamisole and vaccinated with attenuated T hyodysenteriae and those in group II (n = 9) were treated with levamisole and permitted to commingle (contact exposure) with group I. Pigs in group III (n = 9) were vaccinated in a similar manner and were treated with dichlorvos. Pigs in group IV (n = 9) were treated with dichlorvos and permitted to commingle with group III. Control pigs (group V; n = 9) were not given any anthelmintic, nor were they vaccinated; they were housed separately. During the 8-week interval between vaccination and challenge inoculation, 4 total days and 8 total days of diarrhea were observed in pigs in groups I and II, respectively. Likewise, 5 total days and 10 total days of diarrhea were seen in groups III and IV, respectively. In all groups, the pigs tended to shed the organism in their feces after they were vaccinated or challenge inoculated, as determined by a fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) and culture procedure (CP). Overall mean shedding patterns of 5.5% and 24.5% identified by CP and FAT, respectively, were seen in the 2 levamisole-treated groups (I and II). In contrast, mean shedding patterns of 4% and 18% of the isolation attempts were detected by CP and FAT, respectively, in the 2 dichlorvos-treated groups. Diarrhea and shedding of T hyodysenteriae in the controls (group V) did not occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of two pseudorabies virus vaccines,that differ in capacity to reduce virus excretion after a challenge infection,in their capacity of reducing transmission of pseudorabies virus

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) vaccines are often compared for their capacity to reduce virus excretion after a challenge infection. Vaccines, used for the eradication of PRV, however, should reduce transmission of PRV among pigs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the amount of virus excreted after a challenge infection is an accurate measure of the capacity of a vaccine to reduce transmission of PRV among pigs. Two experiments were carried out, each using two groups of 10 pigs. The pigs in group one were intramuscularly vaccinated once with the glycoprotein E (gE)-negative vaccine X, the pigs in group two with the gE-negative strain 783. Eight weeks later, 5 pigs in each group were inoculated with wild-type PRV. A gE-ELISA was used to detect PRV infection. The transmission of PRV was estimated from the number of contact infections and expressed as the reproduction ratio R. The inoculated pigs vaccinated with vaccine X shed significantly more virus than the inoculated pigs vaccinated with strain 783. However, despite the difference in virus excretion, the transmission of PRV between the two groups did not differ. We conclude that virus excretion is not an accurate measure for determining vaccine effectiveness. However, R of vaccine X (R = 0.98) was not significantly below one, whereas R of vaccine 783 (R = 0) was significantly below one. Consequently, we cannot exclude the possibility that major outbreaks of PRV occur among pigs vaccinated with vaccine X.     

Oral vaccination against swine erysipelas--field experiences in Croatia

In order to prove the effects of mass application of oral erysipelas vaccine via drinking water, in a farrow-to-finish production unit in Croatia, the growing-finishing animals were divided into 3 groups and treated as follows:--Group 1 (n=199) was vaccinated intramuscularly against swine erysipelas at 1 week and 3 weeks after arrival in the growing-finishing facility with a swine erysipelas bacterin.--Group 2 (n=199) were vaccinated at the same time with an avirulent culture of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae oral vaccine through drinking water.--Group 3 (n=200) was not vaccinated. Animals with clinical signs of swine erysipelas, chronic progressive arthritis at slaughter, mortality, average daily weight gain during the growing-finishing phase were evaluated. None of the pigs in the groups 1 and 2 showed clinical signs typical for acute swine erysipelas. Twenty-four of the pigs (12 %) in group 3 had pyrexia and skin lesions typical for swine erysipelas. Fifteen pigs in group 1, 13 pigs in group 2, and 63 pigs in group 3 had chronic progressive arthritis (group 1 and 2 vs. group 3: P < 0.01). No significant differences in mortality were recorded between the groups. Group 1 and 2 had higher (P < 0.05) average daily weight gains compared with the group 3.